20 foot-long giant millipedes seized at San Francisco airport

Each giant millipedes was a foot-long (Picture: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol)

Customs officials say they thwarted a plan to bring creepy crawly contraband into the States when they opened a toy box arriving from Germany – and found 20 foot-long giant millipedes inside.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection staff operating at the international mail facility at San Francisco International made the discovery when they removed the lid from a styrofoam box marked ‘toy car model.’

Officials said they x-rayed the package and were confused when it didn’t appear to contain a toy, so they opened the lid.

The box was marked ‘toy car model’ – but there was no car inside (Picture: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol)

‘Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists routinely x-ray and inspect packages arriving from foreign locations for contraband and other prohibited items before they are permitted to enter the U.S.,’ Brian J. Humphrey, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Francisco, explained.

‘The agriculture specialists on duty were quick to notice the deception and took the necessary action.’

The millipedes, which each measured a foot-long, were inside a mesh bag stuffed deep in the box, which was also filled with dirt and paper but officials are unsure as to why someone in the States would want them.

The giant insects, which are native to the forests and coast of central Africa, can live up to eight years in captivity and – contrary to popular belief – have around 256 legs rather than 1,000.